COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A 2014 Coldwater High School graduate was one of only 8 college students from the United States chosen to attend the United Nations World Climate Change Conference in November in Bonn, Germany.
Justin Pothoof spoke last week at the January 3 meeting of the Coldwater Early Bird Exchange Club. Pothoof, who will graduate this year from the University of Detroit Mercy with a bachelor of science of degree in chemistry, is the grandson of Early Bird Club member Neal Dantes.
Pothoof said President Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement dominated the discussion at most of the meetings he was able to attend in his week at the conference. He said that left him disappointed because he had hoped to learn more about possible solutions to challenges presented by climate change.
Pothoof is a student member of the American Chemical Society, which sponsored his group’s trip to the conference in Germany. Pothoof said he is optimistic that the world will survive and address the dangers of climate change, although he is concerned about the U.S. government’s part in dealing with the problem.
Pothoof will be continuing his education with post graduate studies in chemistry with a focus on solar energy.
